Loud knocking on the door of her room woke her up and Surr blinked lazily, rubbing her cheek against Raha's chest.

"Surr? You guys are awake yet?" she heard Thancred's voice and she lifted slowly, sitting astride her mate and rubbing her eyes. "I brought breakfast."

"Sounds good," Raha hummed lazily, without opening his eyes and she leaned in with a giggle, brushing her lips against his gently. He sighed with content and her heart melted to see him so relaxed and… happy. "Really start to understand why you like him so much."

"Told you, he's the best," she laughed at his involuntary growl. "Best friend, silly. Give us a moment, Than!" she called toward the door.

"Okay, but tea is getting cold, just so you know!" he called back with clear amusement. "So hurry up!"

She pouted slightly, then kissed Raha again, making him chuckle. Then she crawled off him and jumped off the bed, stretching lazily and yawning. She walked over to where she left her backpack, pulling out fresh change of clothes: sleeveless shirt, a skirt and underwear; dressing quickly. When she turned around Raha was already sitting on the edge of the bed in his pants, stretching with a yawn. She was mesmerized for a moment by flex of his muscles, her mouth watering.

"Gods… you're so gorgeous," she gasped, walking over as he reached for a shirt he tossed by the bed last evening. It was a sleeveless, red shirt, quite tight fitting. She smiled slightly; it seemed that he really liked red and she thought it really fit him, with his hair and crimson eye. He blushed slightly, looking up at her when she stopped by him, then framed his beautiful face with her palms and stole another kiss, purring with appreciation when his hands closed around her waist, pulling her closer. She rested her forehead against his for a moment, took a deep breath and melted as his spicy smell filled her lungs. "And you really smell so good, my Raha," she sighed with regret, stealing another gentle kiss and straightened, intending to go for the door. She gasped slightly when he lifted off the bed, moving his hands around her face and pulled her in a long, deep kiss.

"I love your smell too," he whispered against her lips, his hands moving to cradle her backside and pull her hard against him. "Twelve, I could…"

"I'm still waiting!" Thancred called again, sounding even more amused. They jumped apart, exchanging sheepish grins and she giggled, blushing.

"I'm coming!" she called, heading toward the door, her tail waving with happiness.

"Then… I maybe come back later!" her friend snarked just before she reached for a doorknob. She opened the door and sent him a glare.

"You're so funny, Than," she dead-panned with a roll of her eyes.

"I know," he grinned, his brown eyes filled with laughter. "But you have to admit you set that one up pretty nicely. Morning, by the way. Morning, G'raha!" he sent a smile over her shoulder. "Now, will you let me in?" he smirked at her, raising meaningfully a quite big platter filled with croissants, different jams and fruits; also steaming tea pot and three cups.

She moved out of the way, opening door wider for him, and with a bit uncertainty watched as he headed toward the table, putting the platter on top of it.

"Since when you make a point to have breakfast with us?" she frowned slightly, closing the door and heading toward him, though keeping careful distance not to upset her mate.

"Can't I want to share a meal with with my best friend?" he send her an easy grin, dropping in one of the chairs and pouring the tea in the cups.

Okay… something was clearly up.

"Than?" he hesitated, then dropped on the couch with a sigh and petted spot next to her, looking at Raha over her shoulder. He frowned slightly, sensing her nervousness probably, but moved around the couch and sat down next to her. She put her hand and his thigh and regarded her friend carefully. "Than, what's up? Clearly you want to talk about something."

He stilled, then sighed and sat back in his seat, sending her a sheepish smile. Surr frowned, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"What did you do?" she drawled slowly, her ears lowering considerably.

"Well…" Thancred coughed slightly, looking away guiltily. "Remember, what we were talking about before I left you yesterday? Before your rampage I mean?"

She paled slightly, tossing quick look at her mate. Raha frowned, looking between them with confusion.

"What's wrong?" he asked with uncertainty. "What were you talking about?"

She swallowed tightly, then turned toward him in her seat and picked up his hand in both of hers, looking at him shyly.

"We… ah, you see, my Raha, Than here," she motioned with her head toward her friend who stayed conspicuously silent. "Thancred is kind of… spy for Scions. And yesterday… he told me that when Alphinaud went to fix your transfer from Students to Scions… he thought they acted quite… suspicious about it. And… well," she licked her lips nervously, pulling his hand against her collarbone. "Well… after I read those papers that Than gathered earlier… It really… really didn't make sense for me…"

She watched as his jaw clench, but then he relaxed visibly, lifting his free hand to push her messy hair back, reminding her she forgot to brush them.

Not that it mattered now…

"Why?" he asked quietly.

"You see…" she hesitated, putting his hand in her lap. "I don't know that much about tribes. But I heard so many stories from my parents growing up… And that they would send you here alone… so young… It really boggled my mind. So I called my papa… since he knows so much more about it… growing up in one and all," she swallowed hard when he looked away from her, his jaw tightening again. Her heart clenched painfully when she felt his anguish and uncertainty. "And… he also said that it doesn't make sense. That even if… even if your mom would… die… Then tribe would be… honor-bound as he said, to raise you. So that they send you here…"

"Guess I'm special case," he laughed, and she shuddered at the bitterness of the sound. "I'm lucky like that…"

"Raha…" she gasped, moving closer to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him in a hug. He was completely still at first, resisting, then he exhaled slowly and relaxed against her, resting his cheek against her shoulder, facing away from Thancred. She run her hand gently over his loose hair, purring soothingly. She tossed a glare at her friend, coiling around her mate protectively. "So what did you do, Than?" she hissed, Raha's anguish putting her teeth on the edge. "Because I'm guessing that you brought it up for a reason?"

"Don't think I can ask you both not to be mad," her best friend sighed, reaching inside his pocket and pulling out wrinkled paper. "But it really piqued my curiosity… So at night I snuck inside Baldesion Annex and… found this," he waved the paper slightly. "Thought… maybe G'raha would like to have a look."

He mate stilled, straightening and looking over at Thancred, tilting his head with confusion. She relaxed her arms around him, picked his hand again to put it in her lap, frowning at her friend.

"What is this?" Raha asked with uncertainty.

"It's a contract," Thancred said slowly, something… angry in his features. Surr twitched nervously, her frown deepening as she narrowed her eyes at the paper. "A contract between Gulaf Baldesion and Nunh of G Tribe. Your father, I guess…" Scion hesitated, then stretched out hand holding the contract across the table, offering it to Raha. "If you want to know why they send you here… It's here"

Her heart stuttered, then started to pound furiously when her mate reached for it with his free hand… then hesitated, his arm shaking slightly. Gods… She narrowed her eyes at her friend, biting her lower lip. By his expression… it was bad. Her hands clenched involuntary around Raha's, and she was tempted to stop him… but it was his choice. Her instinct drove her… hard… to protect her mate. But it was his choice to make.

Finally he clenched his teeth, narrowing his red-cyan eyes and took the paper, bringing it in his lap as his other hand clenched around hers tight.

Both she and Thancred stayed silent as he read. Her friend folded his arms over his chest, his expression growing unreadable. She focused on watching Raha's face, her tail flicking nervously as he paled gradually when his eyes darted across the text. She almost jumped when he suddenly crushed the paper in his fist, growling furiously; she gasped when fury filled their bond.

"Raha…" she started carefully, freeing one hand to touch his shoulder gently as he seemed frozen, staring unblinkingly at his closed fist, his mouth a thin line. "Raha, whatever it is…"

He let go of her suddenly, getting to his feet sharply and walking over to the window, leaning against the frame and staring outside. She swallowed hard, watching his back with uncertainty, noticing how he… shook.

"Than…" she whispered, turning to her friend. "Can you, please…?"

He nodded without her needing to finish, getting to his feet and leaving the room without a word, only passing her another note on the way out.

She looked at it quickly, recognizing Alphinaud's handwriting. He informed her that he managed to book a cabin on the ship heading to Eorzea the next day and that he waited for her decision if she'll be traveling with Raha or teleporting with them straight to Limsa. She rolled her eyes with a quiet huff; she thought the answer was quite obvious. She hated the thought of another three week long sea voyage, but she sure as seven hells wouldn't leave her mate's side.

Surr put the note on the table and stood up, walking toward him slowly. She sighed sadly, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing flush against his back, smoothing her hands soothingly over his chest. She stayed silent, letting him think as she poured her love and adoration across their bond, and purring softly, trying so hard to sooth him.

He felt so angry… And sad… It was breaking her heart.

"I used to wonder…" he finally whispered, one of his hands closing around hers, intertwining their fingers and pressing both against his heart. She whined sadly feeling how hard it was pounding. "For years… I used to wonder, why they didn't want me. Was it my eyes? Did I do something wrong? Or am I just that… unlovable that even my own… parents didn't want me?" suddenly he laughed bitterly. "Guess in the end, I was at least partially right."

"Raha…" she whimpered, coiling around him tightly.

"It's my eye," he continued, fury bubbling across their link. "Fucking Royal Eye of Allag… It's what brought me to study Allagan Empire, you know… When I was a boy, I read that royal line of Allag had red eyes. How quaint, I thought. Just like my infernal red eye. The one that brought nothing but… woe in my life. I was a freak, an outcast and no one wanted me… because of my eye…" he choked, shaking so hard. She sobbed, pressing her wet face against his back. He stilled, then turned around carefully, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face against her shoulder. "Don't cry, Surr, please," he whispered sadly. "Please, my love."

"I want you," she sobbed, wrapping around him again. "I love you, Raha, I want you so much. Please… don't be so sad. I want you, I need you…"

He sighed, then picked her up carefully and carried her back toward the couch, sitting down and putting her in his lap. She moved around immediately, straddling him and wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her face against his throat and weeping.

"I love you," she whimpered softly, smoothing her hands over his hair. "I want you so much, my Raha. Now and always."

He exhaled slowly, wounding his arms around her.

"Thank you," he whispered against her neck. "I love you too, Surr… so much. You're the only… good thing that happened to me. Thank you… for coming here. For… finding me. For… loving me," he choked; a sob tearing from his throat.

Gods… it hurt so much…

She took a deep breath, trying to slow down her pounding heart as she run her fingers through his hair gently, holding him tightly until he calmed down a bit and sagged against backrest of the couch with a deep sigh. She leaned away slightly, pressing a delicate kiss on his lips and brushing her palm against his cheek. His gorgeous eyes were closed, long dark-red lashes wet and her heart broke a little as she felt his misery.

She hesitated, biting her lower lip, then took another deep breath. She needed to understand this if she wanted to help him… at least a little.

"Raha…?" she started carefully, putting her hand against his cheek and smoothing her thumb over it. "What is 'Royal Eye of Allag'? I don't really… I don't understand."

He sighed softly, nuzzling against her palm, then his eyes opened slightly and bitter smile tilted his pretty lips making her heart crack even more when he lifted his hand and pointed at his crimson eye with his finger.

"It seems it's this," he grimaced and dropped his hand, resting it against her thigh. "For whatever reason, my… G tribe seems to be running around, spawning leftover Allagan royalty… if you can even call it that," he sighed again at her confused expression and lifted his hand again to brush her hair back. "According to history records, my Surr, only royal family of the Allagan Empire famously had crimson eyes, though in contrast to me, both of them."

She tilted her head, biting her lip and for a moment trying to imagine how would he look with both of his eyes red… She couldn't. Not that it mattered. For her no matter how he looked, he was most beautiful man she ever saw. Her soulmate.

"It's important, then?" she hesitated. "So why… why did they sent you here?"

"To protect me…" he spat with a low growl. "…until I can be 'useful'."

Surr twitched slightly, feeling his bubbling fury, her tail flicking nervously against his legs.

"Useful…?" she really didn't like the sound of that.

Raha sighed again, taking a deep breath to calm himself as he lifted his other hand and put it on hers, one that still rested against his cheek. He pulled it against his lips, putting a delicate kiss against middle of her palm and then brought it down between their bodies, wrapping his fingers around it tightly.

"You see…" he started slowly, carefully… still with that bitter tilt to his lips that was making her want to whimper. "G tribe resides in Corvos, in Ilsabard, that is currently under Garlean rule. According to that paper, once Garleans started to sniff around for anything concerning Allag… For whatever reason, I have no idea. My… the G tribe decided to send me here, under Baldesion's 'protection.' It seems though for some unexplainable reason they have blood of Allagan royalty running through them, I was the only one born with the Eye in my… generation. They didn't want to risk me drawing Garlemald's attention to them."

She frowned, tilting her head with confusion.

"Isn't… that good?" she asked carefully. "That… that they wanted to protect you? Since…?"

His jaw clenched and he audibly ground his teeth, looking away from her.

"That's not the part I'm taking the biggest issue with…" he drawled through his teeth. He took another deep breath and then looked in her eyes again, his gaze so… distant. "Because it seems that for whatever reason Gu… Baldesion broke his part of the deal. Maybe he just forgot," he smirked, though there wasn't any humor in that. She shuddered, getting that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach again. "Since they requested… no… demanded I'd be sent back once I reach adulthood so they can… breed me. Just in case I have bigger chance to spawn… more royal freaks like me."

She stiffened completely, her eyes narrowing as she processed it, gears in her head turning furiously. Then she hissed aggressively, her ears falling flat against her head as fury bubbled up in her chest, feral haze clawing at the edges of her consciousness and making her mind spin.

They left her mate to rot here… experience neglect and abuse for years, without ever explaining… why?... letting him think… he's so… unwanted… To later what? Take him back without a word and breed him? Like he was… a thing… not a brilliant, wonderful person? Like his feelings didn't matter at all?

She closed her eyes, taking sharp, quick breaths to calm herself… failing miserably as something absolutely primal writhed and clawed at her mind, hissing and seething in fury.

Once he reaches adulthood…? For a Miqo'te it's what…? Sixteen, seventeen at most? If Baldesion didn't… forget…? Probably there's more to that too… But if he didn't… if he sent him back…? Even with all the abuse he experienced, Raha had such a beautiful, sensitive soul… And they would breed him? Like a… chocobo…?

What the fuck?!

Who are those people? What gave them right… Ohh, now she really understood why he was so… angry… and sad… She tried to imagine if her parents would… Gods…

Haze was rising higher and higher, her thoughts spinning furiously as she gasped for air…

"Surr…?" he sounded worried and she struggled to open her eyes, but one look at his beautiful, beloved face made it even worse…

They would rob her of her soulmate… She would never meet him if…

"Raha…" she drawled through her teeth slowly and carefully. "I can't… stop… it… I'm… sorry…"

"Stop what? Surr…? What's going on…?"

Twelve… he doesn't know what… going feral meant…? She couldn't focus, trying hard to push back against the haze.

"I'm… sorry…" she gasped and haze swallowed her mind.


G'raha watched her face with confusion, bringing his hands up around her cheeks when she started gasping as if she was drowning, her eyes squeezed shut.

"I'm… sorry…" Surr gasped… and he blinked hard when suddenly her expression completely smoothed over.

She opened her eyes slowly and he froze, shudder running down his spine at the narrowed, predatory purple gaze.

There was no… consciousness in her eyes. Only fury and raw need.

"Mine," her lips pulled back in a quiet snarl as she moved slowly in his lap, raising on her knees and pressing her hands against his shoulders, pushing him back against the couch… her strength truly astounding… He swallowed hard, dropping his hands slowly to the leather material, watching her carefully.

What the…?

He forgot about all of his fury and misery at the… revelation of the contract. Worry and confusion taking a forefront in his mind as he watched her, trying to figure out what's going on, his tail flicking nervously by their sides.

"Surr?" he asked carefully. "Are… are you okay?"

She growled softly at him, leaning in and nuzzling her cheek against his, purring so loud… He blinked again, carefully lifting his hands to wrap them around her shoulders.

"Surr?" Why wasn't she saying anything…? Confused, he pushed her back to look at her face again… and he froze when she snarled, clearly displeased at interruption.

"Mine," she hissed, pushing on his shoulders harder, her tail whipping with fury.

"Surr, what are you…?" he didn't finish, his eyes shooting wide open when she moved in a flash, tearing his shirt in half. "What the…?" then he arched with a whimper when she bit him hard, growling furiously.

Twelve… As shock of pleasure-pain shoot down his spine, making his cock weep instantly to be inside her, his heart jumping in his throat and pounding furiously, she moved her hands between their bodies, pulling at the waistband of his pants roughly without breaking her bite; furious growl vibrating against his flesh.

Gods… he was on fire…

Without putting much thought in that, he lifted his hips slightly, helping her pull his pants down, tilting his head submissively in instinct. Still his eyebrows shoot up when her underwear shared fate of his shirt and she impaled herself on his cock roughly, still growling as he arched against her again, loud groan leaving his throat when his hands closed around her thighs, pulling her skirt up around her waist.

"Gods… Surr… so good…" he gasped breathlessly as her tight heat surrounded his flesh completely. Then whimpered when she froze, finally lifting her head and licking apologetically at the wound her teeth created. Soon she was purring loudly again, nuzzling at his throat and biting his skin gently.

"Mine," she purred softly, deep-seated satisfaction in her voice.

"Yours," he gasped, tilting his head back, his thoughts spinning as her muscles quivered around his cock. "Twelve, Surr…" it was so hard to catch a breath… "Please… my mate…" he uttered pleadingly, his hands clenching around her hips and pulling her up slowly. So good… so good… He froze when she growled with warning, nipping at his throat less than gentle, sending a shudder down his spine, his throbbing flesh twitching inside her painfully. "Please…" he gasped, going out of his mind with need.

Surr purred, so loud and insistent, in and out of his head and he nearly lost it, nearly coming immediately. Twelve… so good… Then she moved, slating her mouth over his roughly, pushing her tongue inside with demand as her purr vibrated on his lips.

Seven hells… G'raha nearly jumped out of his skin when she put her hands on his shoulders, her long nails digging in hard when she finally started to move on top of him, lifting and dropping on her knees roughly, her tight heat sliding along his cock and quivering as she swallowed his moans and whimpers greedily. His fingers dig in her skin when he moved down slightly, soon lifting his hips to meet her halfway, pulling her down near brutally on his flesh. She finally broke the kiss, panting harshly but still purring as she wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling against his ears; rocking her hips slightly on each downward thrust, putting his blood to on fire.

He gasped with relief when she arched with a howl, shuddering violently and clenching around him like a vice. He whined desperately, rutting into her furiously, then his body went rigid when he spilled inside her with a loud groan, his head falling limply against the couch as waves of heat rolled through his body, making him shiver and gasp as he struggled to catch his breath.

Dazed by bliss, he blinked hard when she moved against him, purring and cooing as she lowered, licking and nipping at his chest. He stilled, feeling another shudder run down his spine when she moved off his lap and next to him on the couch, still moving her mouth down his body and purring so loud…

Wait…? She couldn't want to go again already? He couldn't…

He was completely wrong it seemed, since as soon as her mouth closed around head of his cock, lapping at it gently, her purr sending bolts of lightning along his spine, he arched with a whine, his flesh hardening instantly and making him dizzy.

Twelve… She really could have him any time she wanted…

He chuckled breathlessly at the thought, then whimpered softly, trying to hold his hips still and not jerk as she went about to swallow his flesh, his hand shooting to tangle in her hair and pet her ears gently. Which was a wrong thing to do, he realized with a whine when it made her purr harder… Seven hells… He hung his head, shuddering and panting harshly, fighting to stay still... till he failed, arching helplessly when head of his cock hit back of her throat, and she relaxed it, taking him in even deeper, vibration of her purr maddening. It was all he could do not to come immediately, the sensation still so new and exquisite…

Numbly, trying so hard to hold back as shudders rolled through him, and curses and breathless whimpers tore from his throat, he watched back of her head, his fingers clenching in the fist in her hair involuntary.

He's going to die… Too good… so good… He's dying… definitely… She's trying to kill him… Twelve… so good…

When he was sure he just can't take anymore, he just can't.. he's going to… She moved her head up, her purr intensified as she started to move her mouth around him, sucking on the way up then purring harder on way down…

Seven hells and all Twelve above…

He arched with a shout, shuddering as he came in her mouth so hard he saw stars behind his closed eyelids, his breath so rough his throat felt sore. He fell completely limp against the backrest, trying to collect his thoughts and shivering as she lapped at his flesh gently, so carefully… When he whimpered softly from oversensitivity she stopped, lifting slightly to nuzzle her cheek against muscle on his stomach, her purr so satisfied.

He shivered, gasping weakly as her love and lust poured across his senses, so boundless and drowning… He was more of numb than surprised when almost automatically his cock went hard again.

Twelve… that soulbond is some truly mighty stuff…

He chuckled breathlessly, trying to catch his breath.

Surr lifted, her purr dropping into a low growl as she stared at him intently, her purple eyes so dazed and… feral…

"Come back to me, my beautiful. I can't take you if you go feral."

He frowned at the foggy memory of her soft voice, such fear in it… Then his eyes shoot wide open.

"Oh," he gasped, understanding dawning. He lifted his hand weakly against her cheek, cupping it gently. "So that's what you meant. Took me long enough, I guess," he chuckled with amusement, his heart melting when she nuzzled against his palm with another soft purr, though her eyes were focused intently and unblinkingly on his.

There was something really… cute about her behavior. Like even if she was out of her mind… she still wanted him, so much. Trying not to blink, he leaned in, brushing his lips against hers gently, trying to ignore his body's growing need as her jumbled feeling poured over his mind.

"I love you, my Surr," he whispered against her lips and smiled when her purr dropped lower and she nuzzled her cheek against his, so tender… "Gods… even like this you're so adorable," he smiled, petting her hair gently. She growled softly, clearly enjoying it. "I hope when you're back to yourself you'll explain why were you so worried about this," he sighed with content as she continued to purr and moved to nuzzle against his throat, nipping at his skin gently. "It feels so nice," he tilted his head to make it easier for her, his own purr rumbling in his chest in answer, smiling as he watched over her shoulder her tail whipping with enthusiasm. "So cute."

Then he gasped with surprise when she moved away suddenly, turned around and lowered on her elbows, her purr getting louder again as she watched him unblinkingly over her shoulder, her tail arching up as she wiggled her hips meaningfully.

Twelve… He swallowed hard, then obediently moved, bracing one knee behind her and closing one hand around her hip, bracing the other on the couch next to her shoulder. She growled impatiently when he started to push inside her, trying to be gentle in spite of his pounding heart. She pushed back hard, impaling herself on his cock with a whimper, her tail coiling around his waist when he growled instinctively, lowering over her and panting breathlessly against her neck.

"Ever… insatiable…" he gasped out, closing his eyes shut against the pleasure. "Gods… Surr… so tight…"

She purred again, arching her back to push against him harder, then growled softly with clear demand. G'raha laughed breathlessly, trying to collect his thoughts.

"How long… gods… how long does it last?" he asked, somehow hoping she'll answer. Not really surprised when she just hissed with agitation at his tardiness. "Okay, okay… no need to get upset, my beautiful."

She will kill him, definitely…

He chuckled at the thought, then set to fulfill his mate's needs.

Not a bad way to go, though…


Her senses returned slowly, gradually and Surr blinked lazily, trying to gather her bearings.

She purred softly, realizing she was laying on top of her mate, his even heartbeat under her cheek. They were on top of the bed, and his fingers trailed gently over her back, up and down her spine. Then she gasped, her memory clearing. She shoot up, sitting astride him and realizing both of them were naked.

"Surr?" he hesitated, lifting his forearm from over his eyes and peering at her with uncertainty. "You're back?"

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" she trailed her hands over his chest, looking for injuries and bit her lower lip with worry. Then she sighed with relief, seeing none other than that her mark on him looked like if she bit him again… few times at least. "Thank the Twelve…"

He chuckled at her expression, then sit up, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face against her shoulder.

"You were just a… tad more insatiable than usual," he hummed against her throat, making her giggle sheepishly, then sighed tiredly. "Gods… I'm exhausted."

She wound her arms around his neck and pressed flush against him, nuzzling at his throat.

"I'm so sorry, Raha," she whispered against his skin. "About… your tribe. And that they…"

"They're not my tribe," he said sharply, his voice ringing with steel. But his hands were still so gentle when he smoothed them down her back as she shivered at his anger. "I'm sorry, my love. But I don't want to have anything to do with them. What they planned for me…" his voice cracked, then he coughed lightly. "I owe them nothing. Nothing," he leaned away from her and framed her face with his hands, pressing his forehead against hers and closing his eyes. She whimpered softly, putting her hands on top of his. "You're… you're only one I need, Surr. Only one I love. From now on… I'm only your Raha. G'raha Tia is dead, together with any plans others had for him. Is that… is that okay?"

Her heart almost broke at the crack of his voice and sudden uncertainty.

"I love you, Raha, " she whispered and coiled around him protectively. "No matter what. Whatever you decide and want to do, I'll always support you, with all my heart. You're my soulmate, my love, only one I need," she sank her fingers in his hair gently when he curled his arms around her with relieved sigh.

That he ever doubted even for a second… it made her heart squeeze painfully, but she understood it too well. That his own parents... Twelve...

"Thank you," he rasped against her throat. "I love you too, so much…"

She held him tightly, protective, until his heartbeat slowed down; purring soothingly and smoothing her free hand up and down his back gently. Finally he leaned away again and kissed her delicately.

"I saw the note, before I… brought us to bed," he said with a sigh, brushing her hair back and rubbing his thumb over her cheek. "We're leaving tomorrow?"

"Yeah," she answered, pressing her hand on his to hold it against her cheek as she nuzzled in it affectionately, staring into his beautiful eyes, and pouring her love over their bond. "I'll travel with you, of course. Just have to let Alphinaud know, I guess. What time it is, by the way?" she frowned slightly, her eyes shooting toward chronometer hanging on the wall and then widening. "Gods…" she gasped and blushed furiously when he chuckled, watching her expression.

"Yeah…" he smirked with amusement and her heart vaulted. "You were out… quite a while," slight blush decorated his face, so pretty… then he rolled his eyes making her giggle. "That's why I feel like something run me over."

"Aww, my poor mate," she pursed her lips, taking on sympathetic expression. "Such a harsh task."

"Hey, I'm not complaining," he wiggled his eyebrows meaningfully with another smirk and she grinned brightly. "It was quite… teaching experience."

"Oh?" she lifted her eyebrows questioningly, but her face got even hotter. "Was it?"

"Mhmm… You're quite… adorable and even more fierce, when feral," he grinned when her blush got even darker and she looked away bashfully. He put his fingers under her chin and turned her face back to him, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. "And exhausting," he sighed deeply, making her giggle sheepishly. "But I'm glad you're back to yourself, my love. Now, as much as I would wish to just drop and sleep till tomorrow, we have to dress and go to Studium so I can get inked, and be finally done with this infernal city."

"Inked?" she frowned slightly, tilting her head with confusion.

"Archon marks, my Surr," he motioned pointedly at his throat. "Same as Thancred has."

"Oh," her eyes shoot wide open. She never actually thought to ask Thancred, Y'shtola, Papalymo or Urianger what are those. But it made sense, she guessed, since they also studied here. She frowned, staring at his throat and then at his face, and trying to imagine it. Then she sighed dreamily and faked a pout. "Oh my, you're telling me you're going to get even hotter?" she lifted her eyebrows, shaking her head. "I really have to start taking my training more seriously if soon I'll have to chase all the ladies away for my mate," she sighed patiently. Then she grinned when he blushed furiously, looking away bashfully.

So adorable!

But it also made her think that she did really have to do that… Especially since her half-baked Summoning… sucked.

Surr pulled him in a deep kiss with a giggle, then brushed his hair back gently and put her hand against his cheek.

"I adore you, my Raha," she brushed her lips against his again and smiled softly when he returned tender gesture, cupping her cheek in turn.

"And I adore you, my Surr," he whispered, rubbing his thumb over her skin. Then he smiled. "So up, up you go, my insatiable mate. Let's be done with this city and move on… together."

"Together," she whispered back, then grinned and kissed him again.

She was his, and he was hers.

Now and always.